Electromagnetic device.



W, K. HOWE. ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1910.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

INVENTORi 6O Lat/. f.

'WITNESSES:

.MWML

UNITED STATES l nguists onu on.

WINTHBIOP K. HOWE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WINTHROP K. Hows,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in Electromagnetic Devices, of which the following is a specification.

'My invention relates to an electromagnetic device comprising a winding or solenoid which is electrically energized, and an armature which is actuated by the magnetism produced in the winding. Devices of the kind above referred to are incommon use for controlling the functions and operations of various electrical apparatus. In some forms of electrical apparatus, particularly inelectric railway signaling systems, alternating currents are employed in the controlling devices. While an alternating current may be practically employed to energize an electromagnet or a solenoid by which an armature or core is actuated, the effect of such alternating current, owing to its fluctuating character, is not constant and uniform upon the armature, so that if the armature, when under the influence of the current, is in contact with a fixed or rigid stop, it tends to vibrate or chatter. In certain applications, where a device of the kind above referred to is used in connection with sensitive controlling mechanisms, the vibrations transmitted to the other parts of the apparatus from the electromagnetic controlling device as a result of such vibration in the armature may have the result of deranging such controlling apparatus, or causing accidental and improper operation.

The object of the present invention is to produce an electromagnetic device suitable for use with an alternating current which shall be free from the disadvantage above referred to, and which may be used in connection with sensitive controlling mechanism.

To the above end, my invention comprises an electromagnetic device provided with a stop for the armature, this stop having pro vision for yielding in such a way asto absorb vibrations in the armature without transmitting them to any substantial degree to other parts of the apparatus.

My invention further comprises provision,

in said stop, for arresting the armature upon its initial movement without serious I Specification of Letters Patent. Application med February i2, 1910. Serial No. 543,045.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

jar, and also provision for absorbing shocks due to rebounding of the armature from the yielding stop.

Other objects and features of my invention will be set forth in connection with the following detailed description.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the preferred embodimentof my invention, and is a vertical section through the longitudinal axis of the device.

The illustrated embodiment of my inven tion comprises a winding 2 in the form of a solenoid, and an armature in the form of a cylindrical core 4 which moves longitudinally within the solenoid. The solenoid is inclosed within a soft iron shell 1 invthe usual manner, and a bearing sleeve 3 of nonmagnetic material is inclosed within the sole- -noid and constitutesa guide for the core. Theupper end of the shell 1 is closed by a cover-plate 14, and threaded in a central opening in this cover-plate is a plug 9, which constitutes a bearing for the yielding stop. The stop is provided with a stem 6, movable longitudinally in a hole in the center of the plug 9, and the lower end of the stem- 6 carries a head 7 adapted to be engaged by the upper end of the core. The stop is norma ly held in depressed position by 9. our ression spring 5 coiled around the stem. l Vhen the winding 2 is energized, however, the core is raised into engagement with the head 7 of the stop, thereby compressing the spring 5, and so long as the winding continues to be energized, this engagement is maintained. No chattering can occur between the core and the stop because the spring maintains these parts constantly in engagement, while the spring acts also to absorb the vibrations, of the core and prevents their transmission in any substantial To prevent the stop from falling out of through the hole in the pl position in the plug 9, ahead 12 is fixed to the upper end of the. stem 6, and is adapted to prevent thewithdrawal of the stem The head 12 is provided, on its under si c, with a yielding device, in the form of a soft-rubber washer 13, and this washer prevents the transmission of vibration to the apparatus through the of the stop when released from-contact with the core.

The threaded with the plate 14 cal adjustment of thestop, and a nut 11 serves to secure the plug in adjusted position. A cap 10 threaded upon the upper end of the plug serves both as a lock-nut to secure the nut 11, and as a cover to rotect the upperend of the stop and exclu e dust from the working parts.

The solenoid is shown iqally as connected, through wires B, with 'an alternating fgenerator C which constitutes thedsource 6 current for energizmg' the soleno1 My im roved eleetroma etic device is capable 0 use as a centre device in a widevarie of apparatus. As an exam 1e, however, 0 a suitable application, an ectric semaphore operating mechanism may ment of the plug 9 be cited, such a m H n my ding p cation ria 0. 531,264, mung! 909" 3 1 M invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing but may be embodied in various other orms within the nature of the invention, as defined in the following What Iclaim is:

1. An electromagnetic device having, in combination, a winding, an armature actuated thereby, a resilient stop engaged by the armature at the limit of its movement, and means for cushioning the return of'the stop when disengaged by the armature. ords provision for verti- 2. An electromagnet' ic device ha in combination, a winding, an armatu r e ictuated thereby, a stop arranged in 'tion tobeengagedbythearmatureat elimit of its movement, and resilient devices for resisting movement of the stop in either diiil M i d 1..

3. to 'c evice ,in combination, a md, a core 'i d v rable longitudinal] within the solmoid, and a P in its mward tion and comprising a plurality of t devices controlling the inward movement of the core, one of said devices being primarily operative and another of said devices being operative secondarily to resist extrune inward movement of the core.

w WINTHBOP'K. HOWE.-

Witnesses:

7E. Ban'nu,

P: E. Can-ran.

by the cone-when the core is 

